Willis on Goldson: ‘There was no question he’d be a special player’

Safety Dashon Goldson and linebacker Patrick Willis have come a long way since suiting up on the 49ers’ scout team in the 2007 exhibition season. What’s more surprising: that Willis didn’t become a starter until his third exhibition game, or that Goldson evolved into a Pro Bowl safety last season?

Willis isn’t surprised by Goldson’s steady rise. “There was no question in my mind he’d be a special player,” Willis said. “I remember playing with him on the scout team and how he’d go after the ball and make tackles.”

Goldson has produced two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six pass defenses this season.

Willis, by the way, recorded a team-high seven tackles when he entered the 49ers’ starting lineup in an Aug. 25, 2007 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Goldson wasn’t active that day.

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— Willis wasn’t offended that President Barack Obama, on “Monday Night Football,” said the Chicago Bears have the league’s best defense. “He’s our President, so you can’t say who he thinks should be No. 1,” Willis reasoned.

— Although the 49ers have only 12 takeaways, cornerback Carlos Rogers noted: “We have done a good job getting off the field and eliminating big plays.” Rogers and fellow starting cornerback Tarell Brown are still seeking their first interceptions this season.

— The 49ers are not talking about their current plight as the NFC’s would-be No. 3 seed in the playoffs behind the Atlanta Falcons (8-0) and Chicago Bears (7-1), according to Rogers. “Where we fall in the playoffs is where we fall,”Rogerssaid. “It doesn’t matter.”

— Regarding his tight-lipped press conferences on Mondays and Wednesdays, Harbaugh said he’s not always in his most-confident state. “It’s not a great time to be talking as a coach,” Harbaugh said. “You’re worried, nervous, formulating how we’re going to get this done.”

— Harbaugh is encouraged by what he’s seen from this year’s draft class, none of whom has played a snap other than safety Trenton Robinson in the first three games. “We tell them to work hard, have a good attitude,” Harbaugh said. “They’ll get their opportunity.”

Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and running back LaMichael James, the 49ers’ top picks, haven’t cracked the game-day lineup because “we have 53 healthy guys and you can dress 46 on game days,” Harbaugh said.